The Ambassador Bridge shown in an aerial photograph looking from the Detroit side to the Windsor, Ontario.Paul Sancya | AP File

SAGINAW, MI — As Gov. Rick Snyder stops in Saginaw Wednesday, Oct. 31, to ask Michigan voters to say "no" to five of six statewide ballot proposals, the president of the Detroit International Bridge Company claims residents will be better off if they defy the governor on one proposal.

"This is really government propping up a bad plan to be able to say government controls the border crossing between Detroit and Windsor," President Dan Stamper said.

Proposal 6 would change the state Constitution to require approval by a majority of Michigan voters on any new international commuter bridges or tunnels before the state can spend money on the projects.

Snyder has argued that passage of the proposal would slow down an international government bridge project and would make it more difficult for the state to build bridges and tunnels.

Stamper said the New International Trade Crossing project is full of financial and logistical flaws and says it could threaten his company's business.

"It's a threat because it's being subsidized," he said. "I don't know how you can compete with that."

Snyder and Canadian leaders reached a deal in June on the new bridge. Snyder has said that under the agreement, Michigan isn't on the hook for any of the bridge costs, which would be repaid to Canada through tolls collected on the Canadian side.

Supporters of the bridge argue its construction would ease congestion and improve opportunities for international trade.

Stamper argued that expressway connections and access improvements have been made on the U.S. side of the Ambassador Bridge and will eventually be completed on the Canadian side to improve traffic flow for trucks and passenger vehicles.

Stamper said, regardless, Michigan voters should get the chance to vote on such a major project, echoing many of the advertisements aired as part of "The People Should Decide" campaign, into which Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel "Matty" Moroun has poured millions of dollars.

Stamper said plans are still moving forward to build a twin span of the Ambassador Bridge, which he said would be a better alternative to the new government bridge.